Awning, support and clamp



UML 18, 1955 c LEGG AWNING, SUPPORT AND CLAMP Filed Jan. 26, 1952 ARTHUR CARL LEGG [NVENTOR ATTORN EY United States Patent AWNING, SUPPORT AND CLAMP Arthur Carl Legg, Binghamton, N. Y. Application January 26, 1952, Serial No. 268,445

4 Claims. (Cl. 135-5) This invention relates to awnings, supports and clamps, and will be illustrated as it is used in conjunction with an awning of the general type used in conjunction with house trailers.

It is a principal object of this invention to provide an awning support and clamp arrangement which is simple in construction, economical to make, easy to install and which will securely hold the awning in place.

It is another principal object of this invention to provide an awning which may be reversed to present either side thereof to the weather, and to provide in combination with such an awning a support and clamp arrangement which is equally usable regardless of which side of the awning is exposed to the weather.

It is another principal object of this invention to provide an awning, awning clamp and support arrangement which makes it possible to attach the clamp and support at any desired location along the awning, and which also makes it possible to vary the number of clamps and support for any particular awning and at the same time maintain uniformity of space between the various clamps and supports.

In order that the exact nature of my invention may be clearly understood, reference is made to the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a trailer and awning, showing the general arrangement and nature of my invention.

Fig. 1A discloses an arrangement for attaching the rear end of the awning to the trailer.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the principal parts of my invention.

Fig. 3 is a section along the lines III-III of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 illustrates the double hem arrangement of the awning, which arrangement renders the awning reversible.

Fig. 5 illustrates the awning in reversed position from that shown in Fig. 3.

A house trailer is designated 10, and the awning is designated 12, the awning being attached along its rear end 14 to a cleat 16 affixed to trailer by the insertion of hem 18 in the channel 19 in the cleat, a rope 20 or the like being in the hem 18 to retain the same in the channel. The front end of the awning carries a pair of hems 24 and 26, the said hems being formed by folding the end of the awning as shown (Figs. 3 and 4) and by stitching across the awning at 22. The hems 24 and 26 extend from one side of the awning to the other, and are preferably approximately of the same size. A stiffening rod 28 is placed in either of the hemsin the illustrated case in the hem 24-the rod extending from one side of the awning to the other and being of such a diameter as to fit within the hem.

A series of telescoping or otherwise longitudinally adjustable supporting poles 30 are provided, at the top of each of which poles is provided a clamp 32. Each of the clamps 32 is preferably made from a single piece of stock fabricated to provide an upper jaw 32a, a lower jaw 32b, and a pair of generally parallel compressible body portions 320 connected by the curved end 32d, the stock from which clamp 32 is made preferably being resilient. The portions 320 have aligned holes 32e therein displaced a substantial distance from the end portion 32d.

The contour of the jaws 32a and 32b of the clamp 32 is complementary to that of the hems 24 or 26 with the stiffening rod 28 inserted therein, and the resiliency of the clamp permits a separation of jaws 32a and 32b so that their parallel opposed edges 32 may be separated the required distance to permit the hem with the stiffening rod therein to pass therebetween into a position between the jaws 32a and 32b.

Afiixed to the upper end of each of the supporting poles 30 is a threaded stud 34 which passes through the holes 32c, the lower extension 320 resting on shoulder 30a. A nut 36 on stud 34 and tightened against the upper clamp portion 320 compresses the jaws 32a and 32b around the hem and stiffening rod therein, simultaneously attaching the clamp to the hem and rod and to the upper end of the supporting pole.

The holes 32a in portions 32c of the clamp are displaced a substantial distance from the end portion 32d of clamp 32 to permit loop 38 formed at the upper end of ground stay 40 to engage the inner side of the end portion 32d of clamp 32. Stays 40 are illustrated as having their lower ends attached to the upper ends of chains 41, the chains being engaged by the upper ends of springs 42, the lower ends of the springs being attached to stakes 44 driven into the ground.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 5, the awning is reversed from the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, i. e., the upper side in Figs. 2 and 3 is the underside in Fig. 5. The stiffening rod 28 is inserted in the hem 26, and clamp 32 engages hem 26, hem 24 falling free on the underside of the awning. The described arrangement for fastening the other end of the awning to trailer 10 facilitates reversing the awning. The awning 12, being preferably identical in appearance on both sides, may be reversed after wearing, fading, etc., of one side, to present the exterior appearance of a new awning. Valance 50 hangs properly in both awning positions.

Certain changes may be made from the disclosed preferred embodiment of my invention without departing from the substance thereof as covered by the following claims.

I claim:

1. An awning, clamp and support arrangement comprising an awning, a hem along one end of the awning, a stiffening rod in the hem, a clamp having opposed upper and lower jaws encircling said hem and rod, each of said jaws having an extension extending generally parallel to the extension of the other jaw, means for engaging the extensions to compress the jaws around the hem and stiffening rod, a vertically disposed rod engaging the clamp for supporting the same, and a ground stay engaging the clamp for applying tension thereto.

2. An awning, clamp and support arrangement comprising an awning, a hem along one end of the awning, a stiffening rod in the hem, a clamp having opposed upper and lower jaws encircling said hem and rod, each of said jaws having an extension extending generally parallel to the extension of the other jaw, a hole in each of said extensions, a vertically disposed supporting pole having a shoulder and threaded stud on its upper end, the lower extension resting on said shoulder and said stud passing through said holes, a nut on said stud for compressing said extensions and jaws, and a ground stay engaging said clamp for applying tension to said extensions.

3. An awning, clamp and support arrangement comprising an awning, a hem along one end of the awning, a stiffening rod in the hem, a clamp having opposed upper and lower jaws encircling said hem and rod, each of said jaws having an integral extension extending generally parallel to the extension of the other jaw, said extensions being joined together by an end portion integral with the extensions, a hole in each of said extensions, a vertically disposed supporting pole having a shoulder and threaded stud on its upper end, the lower extension resting on said shoulder and said stud passing through said holes, a nut on said stud for compressing said extensions and jaws, and a ground stay engaging said end portion for applying tension to said extensions.

4. An awning, clamp and support arrangement comprising an awning, a hem along one end of the awning, a stiffening rod in the hem, a clamp having opposed upper and lower jaws encircling said hem and rod, each of said jaws having an integral extension extending generally parallel to the extension of the other jaw, said extensions being joined together by an end portion integral with the extensions, said extensions and end portion being resilient, a hole in each of said extensions, a vertically disposed supporting pole having a shoulder and threaded stud on its upper end, the lower extension resting on said shoulder and said stud passing through said holes, a nut on said stud for compressing said extensions and jaws, and a ground stay engaging said end portion for applying tension to said extensions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 661,324 Rosenbluth et al. Nov. 6, 1900 684,674 Clark Oct. 15, 1901 917,007 Cook Apr. 6, 1909 1,025,058 Hampson Apr. 30, 1912 2,144,140 Batcheller Jan. 17, 1939 2,573,060 Rauglas Oct. 30, 1951 

